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South Dakota gets high marks for special education, Birth to 3 services

Once again, South Dakota has received the highest rating possible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, for both Parts B and C for fiscal year 2009. The state is one of only 20 across the nation to meet the requirements and purposes of IDEA under both Parts B and C, according to information released recently from the U.S. Department of Education.
IDEA Part B monitors the effectiveness of special education services at the preschool and K-12 levels, while Part C refers to the state’s Birth to Three program, which serves younger children and their families. IDEA requires each state to develop a State Performance Plan that evaluates its efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of the IDEA, and describes how the state will improve its implementation.
The Part B State Performance Plan includes baseline data, measurable and rigorous targets, and improvement activities for 20 indicators such as graduation rate, participation and performance on assessments, and ensuring that complaints are resolved and hearings are adjudicated within required timelines.
The Part C, or Birth to 3, State Performance Plan includes baseline data, measurable and rigorous targets, and improvement activities for 14 indicators such as ensuring positive outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities, timely provision of services, and meeting evaluation timelines.
Iowa, Minnesota, Montana and Nebraska were also among the 20 states that met requirements under both parts of IDEA.